Twitter’s New Game-Changing App
Periscope, Twitter’s new mobile app concept, lets users broadcast their points of view to the world.
Periscope is a “live video streaming platform” integrated with Twitter right on mobile devices. Users can transmit real-time recordings of themselves to their Twitter followers and interact with viewers in the process.
In the three months the application has been running, it has amassed over two million users—one million in its first ten days. So far, Periscope has proven a hit with celebrities and media personalities and is being touted as the start of a new age of journalism.
Exciting Ways to Use Periscope
The app’s official website documents users capturing peace delegations in North Korea and incidents at the Baltimore riots. Last month, famous auction house Christie’s broadcasted the bidding on works of art from Picasso, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and more. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres used Periscope to film a staff meeting, and Hillary Clinton live-streamed press questions following her presidential candidacy announcement.
Whether the videos shared are mundane, insightful, or funny, Periscope’s main draw is that it is interactive. YouTube and Vine, the current leaders in social media streaming, do not offer such a feature.
Here’s How It Works:
- The broadcaster begins recording.
- His or her stream is linked to Twitter, so every follower on both Periscope and Twitter is alerted via their Twitter feed or Periscope list that someone they follow is recording live.
- Viewers who choose to watch are then able to comment during the broadcast and “send hearts” from their screen to the broadcaster’s to indicate that they’re enjoying the content and to motivate the broadcaster’s next steps.
- Comments sent appear on the broadcaster’s screen, even as he or she is recording; the broadcaster can respond back in real time, making for a truly interactive experience.
Periscope includes a clickable world map displaying location dots where live feeds are currently streaming from.
“This new visual approach to search is Periscope’s next step in delivering the teleportation experience that originally inspired the idea for the company,” says Twitter spokeswoman Lauren Jones.
How to Use Periscope to Promote Your Business
People are using the Periscope app as a new way to tell their stories. Broadcasters share a similar mindset with the creators of podcasts and YouTube videos—two avenues businesses have been using in their marketing strategies for years.
Let’s approach the use of Periscope from a storytelling standpoint. To tell your business’ story, you need to think like a fan. Keep in mind that social media users want behind-the-scenes access, the kind Hillary Clinton and Ellen DeGeneres are providing with their Periscope accounts. They also want interaction. Periscope users are not there merely for the videos. They want to be a part of the action as completely as possible, even from remote locations. Be sure you are commenting back and answering any questions from potential customers. You must be prepared to let them dictate the broadcast in some ways.
Here are a few examples of how various businesses can utilize this new social app:
- A realtor can live-stream walk-throughs of new houses hitting the market
- Bakeries can showcase fresh pastries coming out of the oven
- Any business can live-stream their grand opening of new locations.
No matter your industry, there is always something to showcase or a new perspective to offer customers.
Newness brings in business and secures a loyal fan base. Becoming an early adopter of the Periscope platform tells your customers that your company is forward thinking and in the know. This humanizes your brand while building trust.
As this innovative broadcasting feature takes off, make sure your company incorporates it into its marketing strategy.